EP3380281A1 - Couteau annulaire ayant un capteur pour mesurer la profondeur de coupe d'une lame de couteau rotative - Google Patents

Couteau annulaire ayant un capteur pour mesurer la profondeur de coupe d'une lame de couteau rotative

Info

Publication number
EP3380281A1
EP3380281A1 EP16800957.9A EP16800957A EP3380281A1 EP 3380281 A1 EP3380281 A1 EP 3380281A1 EP 16800957 A EP16800957 A EP 16800957A EP 3380281 A1 EP3380281 A1 EP 3380281A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fat
knife
sensor
meat piece
outcome
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP16800957.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3380281B1 (fr
Inventor
Lars Bager Christensen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Teknologisk Institut
Original Assignee
Teknologisk Institut
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Teknologisk Institut filed Critical Teknologisk Institut
Publication of EP3380281A1 publication Critical patent/EP3380281A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3380281B1 publication Critical patent/EP3380281B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B25/00—Hand cutting tools involving disc blades, e.g. motor-driven
    • B26B25/002—Motor-driven knives with a rotating annular blade
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A22B5/16—Skinning instruments or knives
    • A22B5/165—Ring knives specially adapted for skinning
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A22B5/0064—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering for classifying or grading carcasses; for measuring back fat

Definitions

  • the invention concerns an annular knife or a circular knife with a sensor for determining the cutting depth of a rotating knife blade such as a Whizard knife or a rotating knife used for trimming meat e.g. at slaughterhouses, such as a Whizard Trimmer from Bettcher Industries.
  • the invention also concerns a method for determining the cutting depth of a rotating knife and a system for performing trimming of meat pieces
  • Livestock carcasses or meat pieces hereof are often trimmed by removing skin and/or fat to obtain a meat piece with a pre-determined appearance and/or to remove part of a fat layer. At least part of this trimming is often performed manually where an operator removes visible skin parts from the meat and trims the fat layer where the fat layer seems to be thicker than a recipe for the product indicates. Trimming meat is often performed using an annular knife and is based on the visual appearance of the meat piece according to visible skin sections and sections where the operator can see and/or has experience of a too thick fat layer. However, as biological variation exists between individual animals, similar meat pieces from animals raised together may vary e.g. according to the thickness of fat. An operator may thus remove too much or too little fat from a meat piece. By such a manual trimming of meat pieces the final thickness of the fat layer may vary along each meat piece and among meat pieces and may be too thin or too thick according to the determined fat thickness, resulting in variation from the
  • a rotating knife such as an annular knife can (is usually) equipped with a solid contact area (termed a guide) in the form of a circular plate or a circular ring located within the circular (annular) rotating knife blade.
  • a solid contact area in relation to the rotating blade.
  • the distance or position of the solid contact area in relation to the rotating blade is fixed.
  • the guide which may be a depth gauge, makes it easy for an operator to remove thin strips of e.g. fat or strips which each on a rough estimate has a fixed thickness and where the thickness is based on the operator's guess and experience according to determination of the thickness of the removed strips.
  • the remaining fat layer on a meat piece may be too thin or too thick according to the requested thickness of a fat layer. However, it's the best the operator can do when keeping up the required speed of trimming the meat pieces.
  • the present invention relates to an annular knife with a sensor making it possible e.g. in real time to determine the thickness of removed skin/fat and thus to calculate the thickness of the fat layer being present on a meat piece while an operator is handling the meat piece, hereby the operator is informed if more fat should be removed from the meat piece.
  • a cutting process can be analyzed in real time, this may be a trimming process removing skin and/or fat from animal meat pieces or removing skin from a human donor and/or patient.
  • the invention relates to an annular knife comprising at least a) an annular knife holder,
  • the sensor of the knife may be mounted at the knife's solid parts, such as within the handle or within a frame protecting the sensor from exposure to e.g. water.
  • the annular knife may further comprise a guide such as a depth gauge hereby making a cutting slit between the annular knife blade and the depth gauge.
  • the angle of the slit determines how deep the knife can cut into an item.
  • the sensor may be a unit or package of e.g. 5.5 x 3.8 x 1.1 mm including one or more of the following features : a.
  • An absolute orientation sensor such as an intelligent 9-axis absolute
  • a rechargeable button cell b.
  • a rechargeable button cell c.
  • a microcontroller such as a 64-bit microcontroller
  • a wireless data transmitter
  • the absolute orientation sensor may comprise: a.
  • An accelerometer such as a tri-axial accelerometer, and/or
  • a gyroscope such as a tri-axial gyroscope, and/or
  • a geomagnetic sensor such as a tri-axial geomagnetic sensor.
  • the invention also relates to a system for manual trimming of meat pieces, the system may comprise: a. At least one annular knife as described herein,
  • At least one handling area for manual trimming at least one meat piece b.
  • At least one handling area for manual trimming at least one meat piece c.
  • said outcome illustrating device being capable of showing an outcome relating to a specific meat piece located at the handling area, and where such outcome is relating to thickness of fat present on the meat piece,
  • At least one camera such as a video camera, located close to the handling area, the at least one camera being capable of obtaining at least one image of at least one meat piece being located at the handling area, e.
  • At least one fat layer thickness determining means being located upstream of the handling area, the fat layer thickness determining means being capable of obtaining data relating to the thickness of fat present on a meat piece preferably without cutting or pricking into the meat piece, the fat layer thickness determining means may comprise at least one data collecting means based on ultrasound e.g. together with a vision system and/or based on X-rays for determining the thickness including variation hereof of a an outer fat layer and/or outer fat regions optionally including a skin layer, f.
  • At least one processor for processing data and producing an outcome
  • relating to thickness of fat present on a meat piece and where data may be obtained from any of:
  • the invention also relates to a method for determining the cutting depth when cutting with an annular knife with a sensor, such as an annular knife as described herein, where a sensor mounted at the knife's solid part determines the absolute position and the orientation of the knife's solid part and determines the correlation between the knife's orientation in relation to the cutting plane and the resulting cutting depth.
  • a sensor mounted at the knife's solid part determines the absolute position and the orientation of the knife's solid part and determines the correlation between the knife's orientation in relation to the cutting plane and the resulting cutting depth.
  • the sensor can read a quaternion description of the knife orientation in space.
  • the invention also relates to a method of trimming a meat piece with an annular knife as described herein as well as to use of the annular knife such as for:
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an annular knife with an indication of a possible location for a sensor.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates fat profiles along a meat product.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a fat thickness map of a meat piece.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a working station for trimming meat pieces.
  • An aspect of the invention relates to an annular knife comprising at least a. an annular knife holder,
  • Annular knives are generally known as Whizard knives and may be annular knives used for trimming meat e.g . at slaughterhouses, such as a Whizard Trimmer from Bettcher Industries. Such knives or other types of annular knives may be equipped with at least one orientation sensor making it possible to determine the absolute orientation of the knife within space and thus making it possible to determine a cutting depth during e.g. trimming of meat pieces.
  • the sensor of the annular knife may be located at any suitable place of the annular knife, preferably the sensor is mounted at the knife's solid parts, such as within one of the knife's solid parts, e.g. within the handle, within the frame, within the cover or within a thumb support.
  • the sensor's location may be dependent on the design of the knife as well as what the knife should be used for. For cutting meat or trimming meat at abattoirs or other food producing companies the sensor may need to be located in a place where e.g. water, fat and/or other constituents from the meat cannot reach and destroy the sensor.
  • the annular knife may further comprise a guide such as a depth gauge hereby making a cutting slit between said annular knife blade and said depth gauge.
  • a guide such as a depth gauge hereby making a cutting slit between said annular knife blade and said depth gauge.
  • the size of the cutting slit i.e. the distance between the annular knife blade and the depth gauge determines the maximum distance the annular knife can cut into an item such as a meat piece.
  • the depth gauge may have any design, such as : i. an annular depth gauge i.e. with an open (non-complete) interior, however the annular depth gauge may be truly annular i.e. be located along all the part of the annular knife blade which is outside the frame, or the annular depth gauge may be partly annular where the depth gauge is only present along part of the annular knife blade which is outside the frame,
  • a circular depth gauge i.e. with a solid interior or with apertures in the
  • a clothoid or partly spiral shaped depth gauge such that the edge of the depth gauge which is closest to the annular knife blade is not within the same distance to the annular knife blade along all the part of the depth gauge, hereby distance between the depth gauge edge and the cutting edge of the knife blade may vary from e.g. 0.5 mm to e.g. 10 mm along the part of the annular knife which is suitable for being used for trimming/cutting.
  • annular knife with a clothoid or partly spiral shaped depth gauge the operator may use different parts of the knife depending on how thick a fat layer should be removed in different areas of a meat piece as the cutting slit will vary depending on the distance from the knife blade to the depth gauge.
  • the depth gauge secures the knife only cuts with a certain thickness depending on the angle of the knife. If the knife is not angled in relation to the surface from where material should be cut away the annular knife and the depth gauge are in the same plane and the knife will not cut away any material. When the knife is angled in relation to the surface from where material should be cut away such that the annular knife is closer to the surface than the depth gauge then it is possible to cut away material. The larger the angle is, the deeper the knife may cut, though with limitations due to the depth gauge and dimension of the annular knife. When trimming meat pieces such as pork loin or pork bellies and meat pieces of comparable sizes i.e.
  • the surface of the meat piece may be assumed to be horizontal and hereby the orientation i.e. angling of the annular knife in relation to horizontal indicates the thickness of removed fat. Thickness determination with an annular knife as described herein may also be performed with other surface orientation e.g. vertical surfaces such as when trimming hanging carcasses e.g. cattle carcasses where the cutting depth is also determined according to the angle between the product surface and the knife plane. Algorithms used by a processor to e.g.
  • determine the cutting depth may take the trimming direction and/or type of material to be cut into consideration .
  • the orientation sensor on the annular knife may be capable of determining the position of the knife i.e. of the sensor and the orientation of the knife i.e. how much the angle of the knife is in relation to e.g . horizontal.
  • the distance from the cutting part of the annular knife to the depth guide should preferably be known .
  • This distance may be a standard distance when using a new knife, but during use and sharpening of the knife it is exposed to hard wear and the distance between the knife and the depth gauge increases giving an increased cutting depth for a similar angling of the knife when compared to a knife with a smaller distance between the knife blade and the depth gauge.
  • From time to time the distance between the knife and the depth gauge should preferably be determined, this may be done manually e.g. by a ruler or by a camera.
  • the distance can be communicated to a processor, which may include this distance in the calculations when determining the cutting depth.
  • the annular knife with a sensor may comprise one or more of the following features : a.
  • An absolute orientation sensor such as an intelligent 9-axis absolute
  • orientation sensor b.
  • a rechargeable button cell
  • a microcontroller such as a 64-bit microcontroller, and/or
  • a wireless data transmitter
  • the sensor can if desired be built together with a rechargeable button cell, a micro controller and if required together with a wireless data transmitter to function as a wireless determination of the cutting depth as a function of time.
  • the absolute orientation sensor may further comprise one or more of the following features : a.
  • An accelerometer such as a tri-axial accelerometer,
  • a gyroscope such as a tri-axial gyroscope
  • a geomagnetic sensor such as a tri-axial geomagnetic sensor.
  • Such a sensor can e.g. be made up with a BNO 055 (Bosch Sensortec) absolute orientation sensor which can read out a quaternion description of the knife orientation in space.
  • BNO 055 Bosch Sensortec
  • Other types of sensors can also be used and may also read out to form a quaternion description of the knife orientation in space.
  • the sensor may further comprise one or more of the following features : a.
  • the sensor is a System in Package (SiP),
  • the sensor has a first dimension of less than 10 mm, e.g. less than 8 mm, such as less than 6 mm, such as about 5 mm,
  • the sensor has a second dimension of less than 6 mm, e.g. less than 5 mm, such as less than 4 mm,
  • the sensor has a third dimension of less than 4 mm, e.g. less than 3 mm, such as less than 2 mm, e.g. about 1 mm,
  • Sensor fusion algorithms such as algorithms capable of determining three- dimensional rotation
  • Other features of the sensor may be one or more of the features :
  • the sensor may be a small unit i.e. a System in Package comprising one or more of the features mentioned herein and the sensor may be capable of being mounted in or at the knife's solid parts and capable of determining e.g. the absolute position and angling of the knife and capable of communicate data wireless to a processor located outside the knife.
  • FIG. 1 Another aspect of the invention relates to a system for manual trimming meat pieces, the system may comprise: a.
  • a handling area for manual trimming at least one meat piece is preferably organized such that the annular knife can be used at the handling area,
  • At least one outcome illustrating device such as at least one monitor
  • the outcome illustrating device being capable of showing an outcome relating to a specific meat piece located at the handling area, and where such outcome is relating to thickness of fat present on the meat piece,
  • At least one camera located close to the handling area, the at least one camera being capable of obtaining at least one image of at least one meat piece being located at the handling area,
  • a fat layer thickness determining means may be located upstream of the handling area, the fat layer thickness determining means may be capable of obtaining data relating to the thickness of fat present on a meat piece preferably without cutting or pricking into the meat piece, the fat layer thickness determining means may comprise at least one data collecting means based on ultrasound e.g. together with a vision system and/or may be based on X-rays for determining the thickness including variation hereof of a an outer fat layer and/or outer fat regions,
  • a processor for processing data and producing an outcome relating to
  • the outcome of the processed data may be illustrated by the outcome illustrating device, such as showed on a monitor e.g. as at least one image indicating e.g. fat layer thickness of a meat piece.
  • the annular knife with a sensor is preferably a knife driven by electricity, thus an electric installation is preferably present at the handling area.
  • An outcome illustrating device may be at least one monitor where the outcome can be illustrated by an image from which an operator may retrieve information in respect of the thickness of the fat layer i.e. in such a system the outcome is not projected towards the meat piece.
  • An outcome illustrating device may also be a device projecting an outcome towards a meat piece which an operator is ready to trim or is trimming. Such outcomes projected towards a meat piece may be an image including lines and/or colors or it may be figures or simple lines projected onto the meat piece.
  • An outcome illustrating device may also be a head mounted device or smart glasses which could show the outcome to an operator e.g. instead of showing the outcome at a monitor. The head mounted device or smart glasses could also be used for augmented reality where the meat piece in the handling area could be overlaid with the outcome produced in the system and this image could be shown in the head mounted device or in the smart glasses.
  • the outcome may be a fat thickness map or image which can be shown on a monitor and/or projected on the meat piece.
  • a fat thickness map or image may illustrate the actual thickness of fat on a meat piece to be trimmed or it may illustrate the areas with a thickness of fat above one specific threshold or several different thresholds.
  • the fat thickness map may be an image with colors e.g. blue, green, yellow, orange and red where each color indicates a range of measured fat thicknesses or each color indicates how much fat should be removed in the area, as an alternative only areas with fat indicated by red color should be trimmed .
  • a fat thickness map is produced and the monitor may show the map or the
  • corresponding fat side of a meat piece may be overlaid with a color coding with a nonlinear transformation where the product recipe dictates a fat cover of not more than e.g. 7 mm : Blue color indicate thicknesses below 7 mm so no fat trimming in the blue areas are required.
  • the range between 7 mm and 15 mm is indicated in green (e.g. 7 to 11 mm) to yellow (e.g. 11 to 15 mm) colors and orange (e.g. 15 to 19 mm) to red (e.g. above 19 mm) accounts for areas with a fat thickness of above 15mm.
  • the operator for this particular product is hereby informed where to trim and in coarse measures how much fat it is needed to remove by trimming.
  • the color system may be adapted to the company e.g. in the number of used colors and/or the meaning of each color.
  • At least one camera may be located close to the handling area, the at least one camera may be capable of obtaining at least one image of at least one meat piece being located at the handling area. This image may be used to inform the system where the meat piece is located and how it is positioned and hereby making the system capable of showing the outcome in the correct position either on a monitor or projected towards the meat piece.
  • the at least one camera may also be used to obtain information in respect of where the operator cuts away fat and/or other constituents of the meat piece and with the calculated depth of the cut based on the sensor data retrieved from the annular knife the system can calculate how much fat is left on the meat piece in the area where the operator has just cut away material .
  • the information may be used to adjust the outcome and show a real time outcome of the amended fat layer on the monitor or in the information projected towards the meat piece. Hereby the operator is informed whether more fat should be removed in the treated area of the meat piece.
  • the at least one camera may also obtain images of the annular knife and especially of the area of the annular knife and the depth gauge. Data from such images may be communicated to the processor, and hereby the processor may calculate the distance between the annular knife and the depth gauge and compensate for the wearing of the knife in the determination of the cutting depth of the annular knife.
  • a fat layer thickness determining means may be located prior to the handling area to determine the fat layer thickness of meat pieces.
  • the fat layer thickness determining means may use ultrasound e.g. together with a vision system and/or may use X-rays to determine the thickness and variation of the thickness of fat present on a meat piece. X-rays may be used by a CT-scanner scanning the meat piece.
  • 3D maps may be made from CT scanning of the raw material e.g. meat pieces.
  • the image stacks (tomograms) from the CT scanner may be stored and form the input to a segmentation program, classifying the tissue density into three classes: meat, fat and bone by simple thresholding. From such 3D maps 2D maps (fat thickness maps) can be created of the thickness of fat on e.g. one side of the scanned material.
  • a processor of the system may retrieve any data or information obtained by the devices in the system and/or an operator may communicate data to the processor.
  • the processor may thus be connected by wire or wireless to any of the devices in the system .
  • the processor may use some or all of the retrieved data or information to produce an outcome or an amended outcome such as a real time outcome, and the processor may communicate this outcome to e.g. an outcome illustrating device.
  • the outcome produced by the processor may be communicated to the
  • the outcome may be shown on or by the at least one outcome illustrating device, such as shown on a monitor, when the meat piece from where data is obtained, is located in the handling area, and/or
  • processor may determine how much fat and/or meat is cut away during the trimming of the meat piece, and/or
  • the at least one camera may obtain at least one image of the meat piece located in the handling area, such as to determine where the annular knife cuts away fat and/or meat from the meat piece, and/or
  • data from the annular knife and from the at least one camera may be
  • the at least one outcome on the outcome illustrating device may be adjusted to indicate the current fat layer thickness of an outer fat layer and/or outer fat regions.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a system for automatic trimming meat pieces, the system may comprise : a.
  • handling area is preferably organized such that the annular knife can be used by a robot at the handling area
  • a fat layer thickness determining means may be located upstream of the handling area, the fat layer thickness determining means may be capable of obtaining data relating to the thickness of fat present on a meat piece preferably without cutting or pricking into the meat piece, the fat layer thickness determining means may comprise at least one data collecting means based on ultrasound e.g. together with a vision system and/or based on X-rays for determining the thickness including variation hereof of a an outer fat layer and/or outer fat regions,
  • a processor for processing data and producing an outcome relating to
  • the invention further relates to a method for determining the cutting depth when cutting with an annular knife with a sensor, such as an annular knife as described herein, where a sensor mounted at the knife's solid part determines the absolute position and the orientation of the knife's solid part and determines the correlation between the knife's orientation in relation to the cutting plane and the resulting cutting depth.
  • the sensor register the movement variation of the annular knife in all directions and algorithms can use this data to determine the cutting depth of the knife.
  • the senor may be capable of read a quaternion description of the knife orientation in space.
  • a processor may retrieve this information and calculate the cutting depth of the annular knife.
  • FIG. 1 An example of cutting depth in relation to time is shown in Fig 2.
  • the blade of the knife is subjected to wear or is sharpened and becomes smaller the distance between the fixed guide and the knife's cutting edge is determined again e.g. with a video camera or a liner to be able to compensate in the transformation between orientation and cutting depth.
  • the other physical parameters in the sensor can also monitor degree of wear of the knife e.g. alert when a tooth from time to time break off, such as if a tooth breaks off the driving gear wheel, or the blade is partially broken e.g. is split.
  • Measuring of cutting depth with a sensor as described herein can be used in different situations such as at an abattoir e.g. when dressing or trimming meat pieces, such as removal of hide and/or fat from meat pieces.
  • the sensor can also monitor if the operator performs unnecessary and/or incorrect movements and thus reduce the risk of injury due to excessive straining as a consequence of the cutting process.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a method of trimming a carcass or meat piece e.g. trimming with an annular knife as described herein, the method may comprising the steps of a.
  • the outcome may be a visual outcome
  • th is outcome may be capable of illustrating where fat should be removed from the carcass or meat piece and/or illustrating the thicknesses of an outer fat layer and/or outer fat regions on the carcass or meat piece
  • a knife such as the annular knife described herein, cut away fat from areas on the carcass or meat piece where the thickness is above a predetermined thickness.
  • Any carcass or meat piece may be trimmed with the annular knife as described herein.
  • Such carcass or meat piece may originate from e.g. pigs, cattle, cows, deer, sheep, goats, and poultry such as chicken, preferably livestock raised animals.
  • Preferred is trimming of meat pieces which have a surface that is substantially horizontal or vertical during the trimming process.
  • Such meat pieces may be pork neck, shoulder, loin, belly and ham, cattle/cow rib-parts, brisket, short rib, loin, short loin, full rump, culotte, and cuvette.
  • the invention also relates to use of an annular knife as described herein .
  • Such use can be for trimming meat or meat pieces which is at least intended to be used as food or feed.
  • the annular knife as described herein may also be a dermatome i.e. a hand-held surgical instrument used by a physician or a medical professional for cutting thin layers or sections of skin tissue from humans.
  • a dermatome may be used for e.g. removal of skin from a human patient, skin debriding (removal of burned skin tissue), tumor/lesion removal and breast reduction .
  • the method of determining the cutting depth may especially be useful for removal of burned skin tissue, tumor/lesion removal, breast reduction and for cutting thin layers of skin where the thickness is important and for cutting thicker layers of skin where all the layers of skin should be included in the section.
  • annular knife as described herein may be performed at an abattoir or another food producing company when trimming meat pieces intended to be used for food or feed .
  • the use may be at hospitals or surgical clinics.
  • annular knife as described herein or of an annular knife with similar function may be performed according to the method for determining the cutting depth as described herein and optionally in a system for trimming meat pieces as described herein .
  • the use in a method of trimming at least one meat piece as described herein may be performed by including a method for determining the cutting depth as further described herein .
  • the annular knife with a sensor as described herein may also be used to determine whether an operator is exposed to repetitive strain injury (RSI) while during cutting making movements which are very similar to each other. This may be observed e.g. from the orientation of the annular knife.
  • An alarm may be included in the system warning the operator and hereby request the operator to make variations in the movement pattern when cutting.
  • the sensor of the annular knife may comprise an accelerometer which may register the vibrations of the annular knife.
  • a processor may analyze the vibrations and may determine whether changes in the vibration's frequency spectrum are due to wear of the wire driving the knife and/or due to wear of the teeth or one or more broken teeth e.g. on the knife blade, on the knife holder or at other locations in the knife.
  • An alarm may indicate the wear and e.g . that the knife blade or knife holder should be replaced.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an annular knife (1) with an indication of a possible location for a sensor (5).
  • the annular knife (1) comprises an annular knife holder (2) for holding an annular knife blade (3).
  • the illustrated annular knife (1) is an electrical knife for manual use and has a handle (4), wherein a sensor (5) may be located, however the sensor (5) is in this annular knife located in the frame (6).
  • the annular knife has a depth gauge (7) which together with the annular knife blade (3) makes an opening which functions as a cutting slit (8) where the size of the cutting slit (8) determines the maximum cutting depth of the annular knife (1).
  • the cutting depth was calculated from data obtained from a sensor located on an annular knife when cutting a more or less horizontal surface. Such data comprises actual location and orientation of the annular knife e.g . angling of the knife.
  • the left end of the graphs is the neck-end of the meat piece and the right end of the graphs is the hip end of the meat piece.
  • Different types of lines illustrate different substantially parallel lines along the loin.
  • Thickness of the fat was determined along four longitudinal lines of the loin with a CT-scanner using X-ray determination .
  • the fat thickness is at least 5 mm along all four lines but otherwise vary in thickness indicating that different amount of fat has to be cut away to obtain a loin with e.g. a fat thickness of no more than 7 mm . In some areas no fat should be removed in other areas e.g.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a fat thickness map of a belly piece from a pig.
  • the image When in use the image is usually in color and different colors may indicate the actual thickness of the fat layer or the amount of fat which an operator should remove.
  • the skin of the belly piece was mechanically removed before determining the fat thickness at the belly piece.
  • the blue color may indicate areas with less fat followed by increasing thickness illustrated by green, yellow and orange and the thickest fat may be illustrated by red.
  • the colors may indicate the actual thickness of the fat layer or may indicate how much fat an operator or robot should remove from the meat piece to obtain a fat layer of a pre-determined thickness.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of a production line including a working station (handling area (9)) for trimming meat pieces at an abattoir or other food producing company.
  • Meat pieces ( 10, Al, A2 and A3) are transported by a conveyor belt (15) moving in the direction indicated by the arrows below the conveyor belt (15) .
  • the meat piece (10) is first analyzed to obtain data of the thickness of the fat layer, this happens when the conveyor belt (15) transports the meat piece (10, Al) past a fat layer thickness determining means (13) such as a CT-scanner or a system using ultrasound e.g. together with a vision system .
  • Obtained data is processed in a processor ( 14) and the outcome is illustrated on or by an outcome illustrating device (11) e.g.
  • a monitor in the handling area (9) where an operator is ready to trim the meat piece In the handling area (9) a camera (12) may be located and the annular knife (1) with a sensor which is handled by the operator.
  • the handling area (9) where the operator trims the meat can be located next to the conveyor belt (15) such that the operator handles the meat piece (10, A2) on a stationary table (not shown).
  • a monitor may show a colored image (such as a fat thickness map as shown in Fig 4 - though in colors) where the different colors indicate how much fat should be removed in the different areas of the meat piece (10). When trimmed the meat piece (10, A3) can be transported by the conveyor belt (15) e.g. to a packaging station (not shown). List of reference signs
  • Fat layer thickness determining means
  • Circular knife with a sensor for determining the cutting depth .
  • Circular knife according to item 1 wherein the sensor comprises one or more of the following features: a. An absolute orientation sensor, b. A rechargeable button cell, c. A micro controller, d. A wireless data transmitter.
  • Circular knife according to item 2 wherein the orientation sensor is of the type BNO 055 from Bosch Sensortec.
  • Circular knife according to any of the items 1 to 3, wherein the sensor is mounted at the knife's solid parts. 5. Method for determining the cutting depth of a circular knife where a sensor determines the absolute position of the knife blade and the orientation of the knife's solid part and hereby determines the correlation between the knife's orientation in relation to the cutting plane and the resulting cutting depth . 6. Method for determining the cutting depth of a circular knife where a sensor mounted at the knife's solid part determines the absolute position and the orientation of the knife's solid part and hereby determines the correlation between the knife's orientation in relation to the cutting plane and the resulting cutting depth. 7. Method according to any of the items 5 to 6, where the sensor can read a quaternion description of the knife orientation in the space.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un couteau annulaire (1) ayant un capteur (5) pour déterminer la profondeur de coupe et un procédé pour déterminer la profondeur de coupe. Lors du parage de la viande, tel que dans des abattoirs, un client peut nécessiter une couche de graisse d'une épaisseur donnée, cependant la couche de graisse naturelle des animaux varie entre différentes carcasses et dans la carcasse/la pièce de viande individuelle. Par la détermination de l'épaisseur de couche de graisse et de la variation qui s'ensuit d'un morceau de viande avant le parage du morceau de viande, un opérateur peut se voir présenter de telles informations et peut retirer la graisse dans différentes zones pour obtenir l'épaisseur requise. Le parage peut être effectué avec un système calculant en temps réel la quantité de graisse devant être retirée quand de la graisse a déjà été retirée par un opérateur.
EP16800957.9A 2015-11-23 2016-11-23 Couteau annulaire ayant un capteur pour mesurer la profondeur de coupe d'une lame de couteau rotative Active EP3380281B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA201500748 2015-11-23
PCT/EP2016/078553 WO2017089397A1 (fr) 2015-11-23 2016-11-23 Couteau annulaire ayant un capteur pour mesurer la profondeur de coupe d'une lame de couteau rotative

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3380281A1 true EP3380281A1 (fr) 2018-10-03
EP3380281B1 EP3380281B1 (fr) 2020-05-27

Family

ID=58764127

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16800957.9A Active EP3380281B1 (fr) 2015-11-23 2016-11-23 Couteau annulaire ayant un capteur pour mesurer la profondeur de coupe d'une lame de couteau rotative

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20180345513A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP3380281B1 (fr)
DK (1) DK3380281T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2017089397A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4166317A (en) * 1977-10-17 1979-09-04 Bettcher Industries, Inc. Trimming knife
US4575937A (en) * 1984-10-22 1986-03-18 Mccullough Timothy J Depth control gauge for meat trimming knife
US5484331A (en) * 1993-04-23 1996-01-16 Monfort, Inc. Method and device for hot fat trimming
US6694649B2 (en) * 2001-11-07 2004-02-24 Bettcher Industries, Inc. Motor driven knife including depth limiting device
DK1464227T3 (da) * 2003-04-04 2010-11-22 Schill Maja Masch Apparat til afsværing eller trimning af et kødstykke eller et stykke slagtedyr

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20180345513A1 (en) 2018-12-06
EP3380281B1 (fr) 2020-05-27
DK3380281T3 (da) 2020-08-31
WO2017089397A1 (fr) 2017-06-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2531038B2 (fr) Appareil de traitement d'aliments pour détecter et couper des tissus durs des produits alimentaires
US7654890B2 (en) Device for de-rinding trimming a piece of meat or a piece of slaughtered animal
EP1887874B1 (fr) Procede et usage d'une base de données permettant de determiner automatiquement les caracteristiques de qualite d'une carcasse sur une chaine d'abattage
US5334084A (en) Method and apparatus for automatically trimming fatty tissue from animal carcasses
US7850512B2 (en) Method for determining physiological parameters of a slaughtered animal body
US5205779A (en) Method and apparatus for automatically segmenting animal carcasses
US5133687A (en) Water jet/abrasive jet cutting head
US5162016A (en) Abrasive for a water jet cutting head
US20220132872A1 (en) Portioning/trimming of rib primal cuts
US8485871B2 (en) Meat fabrication system and method
CA2877448C (fr) Procede et dispositif de surveillance d'une machine de transformation de viande
EP2922405B1 (fr) Procédé de contrôle et d'élimination de matières étrangères dans des produits alimentaires
JP2022530772A (ja) 吊るされた半身の豚の枝肉からの前端の切断
EP1263292B1 (fr) Appareil de decoupage de carcasses de viande
Kim et al. Robot technology for pork and beef meat slaughtering process: a review
EP2946667B1 (fr) Appareil d'imagerie à rayons x pour la détermination d'une trajectoire de coupe d'une carcasse et procédé correspondant
EP3380281B1 (fr) Couteau annulaire ayant un capteur pour mesurer la profondeur de coupe d'une lame de couteau rotative
CN115460926B (zh) 用于切片和针状骨去除的装置和方法
EP1174034A1 (fr) Procédé pour tailler des flancs de porc
US10123544B2 (en) Tool for removal of meat pieces such as tenderloin from a carcass
DK180499B1 (en) Portion cutting of meat products

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20180619

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20200109

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1274100

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200615

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602016037154

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

Effective date: 20200825

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200928

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200927

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200827

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200828

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200827

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1274100

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602016037154

Country of ref document: DE

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20210302

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20201123

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20201130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20201130

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20201130

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20211122

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20211122

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20211118

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20211119

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20211119

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20200527

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20201130

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602016037154

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

Effective date: 20221130

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20221123

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20221123

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20221123

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230601

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20221130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20221130